Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:21:59 -0500 From: Jeff Hollingsworth <hollings@cs.umd.edu> To: Jim Purtilo <purtilo@cs.umd.edu> CC: "Davis, Larry" <lsd@cs.umd.edu> Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Request for a new 498x number] It is not about you. We have had a couple of similar requests and a bit of confusion on the iPhone course this term. It's also a bit bit about being concerned if students come and ask "why didn't I know about that course" (some of which dates to the creation of 213/313). The decision was we needed to be more careful in handing out "regular" course numbers and making sure we know what they are and fairly advertise them. We are going to ask that requests for 498? come in early in the planing cycle, and will likely be mentioned at education meetings as part of that process. The idea is that courses (and their titles) are part of the shared CS brand, and that we should be making decisions on these things in and open and transparent process. Both Larry and I are thrilled when faculty want to create new small courses as part of an un-paid overload. We just want to make sure we know what we are getting into, and that all eligible students have a chance to sign up. I apologize for the slow response. As I said we have had a couple of similar things come up and we wanted to sort out a fair and consistent policy. Thanks, Jeff Jim Purtilo wrote: > Jeff, I'll of course abide your decision. Nevertheless I'll appreciate > your helping me get a clear understanding of why a limit helps the > department, or what would be lost by offering it. Or is there a specific > concern with me, or with quality of what I'm offering? Do you prefer > that we only offer courses that will let us hit workload and not more? > Or is the intent to avoid being on lists of departments having > under-enrolled regular courses (even if offered above and beyond > workload, so okay even by the Provost's standards)? Is this some > after-effect of my transition, an appeasement to the Dean? Obviously > this begs more questions. Please help me get my head around the issue so > I can navigate around any problems in the future, and of course not make > promises to students that it turns out I am unable to meet, thanks. -- Jim